Heartburn and Reflux Disease
Acid reflux and heartburn affect millions of people every day. These problems are usually a direct result of one of the following three problems: weak lower esophageal sphincter, poor esophageal function, and delayed gastric emptying.
Your esophagus and stomach are joined by the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES), and whatever you eat will pass into your esophagus and through the LES to enter your stomach. Everyone experiences a small reflux, when minuscule amounts of the stomach contents reenter the esophagus and then return to the stomach, but this type of reflux is not typically harmful. However, when certain conditions occur, you’re more likely to experience acid reflux or heartburn, which can cause damage to your esophagus.
- Weak Lower Esophageal Sphincter. The sphincter acts as a valve, allowing food to pass through and keeping stomach acid from splashing back up. If your LES is weak (or sometimes absent), the stomach acid will reflux into your esophagus and can cause significant harm over time.
- Poor Esophageal Function. Your esophagus will automatically expel any refluxed stomach contents back into your stomach, but on occasion it will not function properly. The stomach acid may remain in the esophagus for an extended period of time, which can damage its lining.
- Delayed Gastric Emptying. Your body is designed to act efficiently, processing your food through your body at the right time needed to keep things running smoothly. However, if your food remains in your stomach longer than it should, pressure will build, causing the LES to open. The stomach acid will reflux into your esophagus, potentially causing you injury.
